Rotary coupler

Abstract

Rotary coupler for a railway car wherein a laterally extending cylindrical member with annular bosses is attached to the coupler butt and is received by the shank which has corresponding annular grooves and which is attached to the coupler head, to allow rotation of the cylindrical member within the shank while providing adequate strength and bearing.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A rotary coupler for a railway car comprising a coupler head having a shank extending rearwardly therefrom, said shank having an opening therein with a plurality of bearing surfaces, a coupler butt contiguous with the end of the shank, said butt having a forwardly extending cylindrical member attached thereto which extends into the opening in the shank wherein the cylindrical member may rotate within said shank and a plurality of spaced bosses on said cylindrical member cooperating with the bearing surfaces for sustaining draft and buff forces. 
     
     
       2. Coupler of claim 1, in which the bosses are annular and of larger diameter than the cylindrical member. 
     
     
       3. Coupler of claim 1, in which the opening in the shank is sealed with a separate closure member. 
     
     
       4. Coupler of claim 1, in which the shank is cast integral with the coupler head. 
     
     
       5. Coupler of claim 1, in which the cylindrical member is cast integral with the coupler butt. 
     
     
       6. Coupler of claim 1, in which the boss closest to the coupler head is of larger diameter than the other bosses. 
     
     
       7. A rotary coupler for a railway car comprising a coupler head having a shank extending rearwardly therefrom, said shank having an opening therein with a plurality of bearing surfaces, a coupler butt contiguous with the end of the shank, said butt having a forwardly extending cylindrical member attached thereto, which extends into the opening in the shank wherein the cylindrical member may rotate within said shank and a plurality of spaced bosses on said cylindrical member cooperating with the bearing surfaces for sustaining draft and buff forces, the boss closest to the coupler head being of larger diameter than the other bosses.